Google Cloud has unveiled an ambitious project to establish new subsea cables connecting the United States, Australia, and several Pacific islands, in collaboration with the Australian government. This initiative, known as the South Pacific Connect, involves partnerships with Fiji International Telecommunications, the Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia, APTelecom, and the Vocus Group.
The United States government has committed up to $15 million for this project, starting with an initial investment of $5 million, while the majority of the funding, totaling $50 million, will be provided by the Australian government.
The South Pacific Connect initiative comprises two subsea cable lines. The first, named “Tabua” after a sacred Fijian whale’s tooth, will establish connections between the involved countries via Fiji. The second, called “Honomoana,” a Polynesian term combining “link” and “ocean,” will extend a secondary cable line via French Polynesia.
Strategic branching points have been strategically placed along the routes of these cables to enable further connections to other Pacific Islands. The region, with its unique geography, is susceptible to events like natural disasters that have disrupted communications in the past. The South Pacific Connect Initiative aims to enhance low-latency connections between the islands and beyond, increasing resilience.
A separate White House fact sheet outlines plans to extend these connections to various Pacific nations, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Google highlights the potential of subsea connections to enhance internet affordability and reliability. It is expected that improved connectivity will contribute to economic development in all the countries and regions involved in the project.
This announcement coincides with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the United States, during which rival tech giant Microsoft also pledged to invest $5 billion in the country to enhance its cloud computing and artificial intelligence landscape, create jobs, and provide workforce training opportunities.
